Who Are the Christians in the Middle East?

by Betty Jane Bailey, J. Martin Bailey

Overview

The Middle East continues to dominate international news and global politics. From the perspective of religion, however, many Americans think of that area only in terms of Muslims and Israeli Jews and are unaware of the extensive Christian communities that still exist there. Who Are the Christians in the Middle East? chronicles the history and current state of Christianity in this highly volatile region of the world.

Based on personal experience, official church documents, and extensive interviews, Who Are the Christians in the Middle East? looks at the conflicted Middle East region from a perspective that has received scant attention in the mainstream media.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780802865953
Publisher:	Eerdmans, William B. Publishing Company
Publication date:	11/12/2010
Edition description:	Second Edition,New Edition
Pages:	244
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Betty Jane Bailey is currently a consultant to the Middle East Office of the Common Global Ministries Board, UCC/Disciples of Christ. J.


Martin Bailey is presently serving as director of development for Worldwide Faith News and as media consultant to the Hartford-based interfaith project Faith Communities Today. Both are ordained ministers in the United Church of Christ.

Table of Contents

Preface to the Second Edition ix

Our Love Affair with the Middle East: An Introduction xi

I The Churches of the Middle East

A Western Christian Appreciation of Eastern Christianity David A. Kerr 3

The Future of Christians in the Arab World Riad Jarjour 12

The Churches of the Middle East Now Work Together 22

The Importance of Jerusalem to Christians 32

A Timeline of Christianity in the Middle East 37

A Word about Numbers 44

II Profiles of the Churches

The Origins of the Diversity of Christianity in the Middle East 49

The Eastern Orthodox Family 56

The Oriental Orthodox Family 69

The Catholic Family 82

The Evangelical (Protestant) Family 101

The Assyrian Church of the East 134

III Church and State in the Middle East

A Brief History 141

Cyprus 145

Egypt 148

The Holy Land: Israel and Palestine 154

Iran 164

Iraq 168

Jordan 173

Lebanon 178

The Maghreb (North Africa) 185

The Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia 189

Sudan 195

Syria 199

Turkey 204

Annotated Bibliography, including Websites 210

Index 214

Editorial Reviews

The definitive resource for understanding Christianity in the Middle East. Having been in the region on and off since 1969, the Baileys write from personal experience and acquaintance with their subject matter. . . . Recommended for libraries and all seeking an introduction to this topic.”
— Religious Studies Review

“News may come streaming in daily from the Middle East, but there is hardly ever a mention of the Christians in the region. . . . This solid reference book should open up a new understanding of the Christian community abroad.”
— Christianity Today

“We are indebted to the Baileys for this timely overview of the usually overlooked, frequently forgotten, and often misunderstood family of Middle Eastern churches tracing direct lineage to our early Christian forebears. Those who pick up the book hoping to find answers to the question posed by the title will not be disappointed. . . . A one-of-a-kind and sorely needed resource.”
— Jonathan J. Bonk
Overseas Ministries Study Center

From the Publisher

With the world's attention focused on ongoing conflicts in Israel, journalists, authors and scholars have examined the long-standing hostility between Jews and Muslims there. One group that is often omitted from the story, however, is the region's Christians, who constitute a historic minority not only in Israel but also in Lebanon, Egypt, Syria and other nations. In Who Are the Christians in the Middle East? Betty Jane and J. Martin Bailey explore the history of the region's various Christian groups, which include many different Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant traditions. This is a very practical reference book, with one section describing each denomination and another explaining the situation of Christians on a country-by-country basis. The format makes for some repetition of information, but the material is accessibly written and well researched.

Publishers Weekly